Effects of repeated exposure to cat odor on anti-predator and anxiety-like behaviors of juvenile Brandt's voles(Lasiopodomys brandtii)

PENG Yan; WU Yongzhen; GU Chen; YANG Shengmei; YIN Baofa; WEI Wanhong

doi:10.16829/j.slxb.150469

2021 , Vol. 41 >Issue 4: 451 - 458

DOI: https://doi.org/10.16829/j.slxb.150469

ORIGINAL PAPERS

Effects of repeated exposure to cat odor on anti-predator and anxiety-like behaviors of juvenile Brandt's voles(Lasiopodomys brandtii)

PENG Yan ,
WU Yongzhen ,
GU Chen ,
YANG Shengmei ,
YIN Baofa ,
WEI Wanhong

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1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China;
2 Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Diseases and Zoonoses in Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou 225009, China

Received date: 2020-08-16

Online published: 2021-05-07

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Abstract

The predator odor has an important effect on the behavior and physiology of the prey.This paper aimed to investigate the change of anti-predator, anxiety-like behaviors and endocrine level of juvenile Brandt's voles(Lasiopodomysbrandtii) after repeated exposure to cat odor for 18 days.We also discuss the response strategy of juvenile Brandt's voles affected by the cat odor.The results showed that juvenile Brandt's voles significantly increased concealing behavior and decreased the locomotion, jumping, grooming and contact behaviors after exposed to cat odor for one day.However, after repeated exposure to cat odor for 18 days, they developed a behavioral adaptation to the cat odor and their anti-predator behaviors were not significantly different to that of the control group.The open field test showed that the repeated exposure to cat odor significantly reduced the total distance moved and average velocity of juvenile Brandt's voles, while increased their immobility time.In the light-dark box test, female Brandt's vole in the cat-odor group visited more frequently the light area than the male, however, there was no significant difference in time in the light box between genders and treatments.There were no significant changes in plasma corticosterone(CORT) and adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) concentrations for the juvenile Brandt's voles after repeated exposure to cat odor.These findings indicate that when juvenile Brandt's voles are initially exposed to cat odor, their anti-predator behaviors increased, but subsequently diminished over repeated exposures.On the other hand, their anxiety-like behaviors did not vary.

Key words： Brandt's voles; Anti-predator behavior; Anxiety-like behavior; Predator odor; HPA axis

Cite this article

PENG Yan , WU Yongzhen , GU Chen , YANG Shengmei , YIN Baofa , WEI Wanhong . Effects of repeated exposure to cat odor on anti-predator and anxiety-like behaviors of juvenile Brandt's voles(Lasiopodomys brandtii)[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2021 , 41(4) : 451 -458 . DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150469

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